Emmer: Walz ‘like Gavin Newsom in a flannel shirt’

Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) said Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), the Democratic nominee for vice president, is “like Gavin Newsom in a flannel shirt” in a Sunday interview.

Emmer stated in the interview on ABC’s “This Week” that Walz “lost” the previous congressional district he used to be a representative for in the House “in both of his gubernatorial races.”

“In the last one, almost by 10 points,” Emmer added. “He’s not well-liked because once you get to know the real Tim Walz, he’s like Gavin Newsom in a flannel shirt.”

Per a report from The Hill earlier this week, two sources confirmed that Emmer was playing Walz in debate prep for Ohio Sen. JD Vance (R). Vance and Walz are set to go head-to-head in a CBS News debate this Tuesday.

Host Martha Raddatz noted that Walz has been ahead of Vance regarding favorability ratings, to which Emmer responded that he believes the Ohio senator “is very likable, and I think he’s well liked.”

“And I don’t buy into these snapshot polls that are being done for a specific reason,” Emmer continued. “If you’re not willing … to agree that Tim Walz, once people get to know who he is and they know what his policies are, he’s more radical than Kamala Harris.”

“People do not like him once they get to know him. And JD will expose that on Tuesday,” he added.

For Walz, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was reported by The Hill to be playing Vance for the Minnesota governor’s debate preparations, doing so in his personal capacity, according to a source familiar with the matter.

The Hill has reached out to the Harris campaign for comment.

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